Earlier an Ikhwani, Nazir Ahmed Wani joined, the Army’s 162 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in 2004. Wani who had joined the Separatists and had become an insurgent. However he saw through the Pakistani game and realised that there would be no AZADI. So instead of becoming a terrorist by killing innocent Kashmiri Civilians, he joined Kakkar Parrey and through him surrendered and became an ikhwani…..started fighting the terrorist outfits and those committed to destruction of Kashmir. Wani hailed from Cheki Ashmuji in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Then when 162 Jammu& Kashmir LI TA Battalion was raised, he joined it as a Jawan. As per his wife “ He always wanted to make his 162/TA Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Batallion proud. For him, duty was supreme. He was a source of inspiration for people in our area and community,” said Mahajabeen, who is in her late 30s.
This brave soldier proved his worth many a times. For his various acts of bravery, on two Occasions he was awarded with the Sena Medal for gallantry, first time in 2007 and again in 2018. He was a brave soldier and a hero right from the beginning. He always served for peace in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir. He always had the interest of the nation in his heart. He operated with Rashtriya Rifles units in Kashmir. Throughout his active life he always willingly faced grave potential threats and was a source of inspiration for others.
On November 25, 38-year-old Wani lost his life in a counter-terror operation against six terrorists in Hirapur village near Batgund, in Shopian. Under intense hail of bullets from the terrorists, he eliminated the ‘district commander’ of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one foreign terrorist in a daring display of raw courage.In the ensuing gunfight, he was hit multiple times including on his head. He also injured another terrorist before succumbing to his grievous wounds.
On this 26 January, on behalf of this Nation the Soldier was conferred the award posthumously on by President Ram Nath Kovind, as part of the Republic Day Ceremony.The award was placed in the hands of his wife Begum MahaJabeen Wani. Apart from his wife, he is survived by two sons Athar (20) and Shaid (18).
“He had telephoned me the previous evening and enquired about our well-being. I had told him to take care of himself. But destiny had something else for him,” said Mahajabeen in an interview to PTI. Recalling the fateful day of November 25, Mahajabeen said she was at her parents’ house when the shocking news came.
Nearly one-and-half months after Wani’s death in an anti-terror operation in Shopian, Mahajabeen, a teacher and mother of two, says his immense love for her and fearless persona are a source of motivation for her to encourage youngsters to become good citizens.
“I did not cry when I was told he is no more. There was an inner resolve which did not allow me to cry,” she said, on a day the government announced the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
As a teacher, I am dedicating myself to creating good citizens for my state. Leading the young minds in the right direction is my resolve and I am drawing inspiration for it from my beloved husband — the best in the world,” said Mahajabeen.
